South Africa, Ghana Spar Over Migrant's Death Amid Xenophobia Row

A diplomatic row has erupted between Ghana and South Africa after a Ghanaian migrant was killed in Cape Town earlier this week. Ghana's Foreign Ministry stated that its national, Bashiru Isak, 40, was shot and killed during anti-immigrant demonstrations, formally protesting to Pretoria and condemning what it called a "rising tide of xenophobia targeting African nationals, including Ghanaians, in South Africa."

South Africa's government has dismissed Ghana's accusation as "factually incorrect" and "not based on fact." It asserted that "no fatalities" were recorded on the day of the protests, which saw thousands march across the country. South African Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi expressed concern over Ghana's continued dissemination of false information, stating, "The spread of false information to perpetuate the false narrative that South Africa is xenophobic is unacceptable."

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The spread of false information to perpetuate the false narrative that South Africa is xenophobic is unacceptable.

South African authorities suspect the killing might be linked to extortion. Police informed AFP news agency that a 35-year-old Ghanaian, identified differently from the name provided by Ghana's government, was shot at a barbershop on Monday, not Tuesday as claimed by Accra. Despite this, Ghana's Foreign Ministry maintains it stands by its original statement.

South Africa has experienced weeks of unrest related to illegal migration, including attacks on businesses owned by migrants. Anti-migrant groups had issued a June 30 deadline for undocumented immigrants to leave the country. While the recent demonstrations were largely peaceful, some instances of looting and attempted looting occurred. In the lead-up to the deadline, thousands of African migrants had already departed or been repatriated.

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Accra also condemned what it said was the 'rising tide of xenophobia targeting African nationals, including Ghanaians, in South Africa.'